Intactivism: Week in Review March 24, 2012

by Tally on March 24, 2012

Parents, protect your babies. Support intactivism. The following list includes blogs, articles, and websites of interest to Intactivists that were published in the past week. This is a running tally of the ones I found interesting.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Daily Monitor:Male circumcision: Effects that people should know
A scientist in Uganda questions the efficacy of the male circumcision campaign being waged in Africa. He points out that there is evidence against male circumcision. The evidence shows that the effects of circumcision are overstated. Also, there is evidence that circumcision harms the male long term and adversely affects his sexual pleasure.

Choose Intact:“Since not all men are willing to be circumcised,…” (Part 2)
The second in a series rebutting a recent meta-analysis about male infant circumcision. This part examines the lack of logic used in the meta-analysis. The obvious conclusion is that the authors of the meta-analysis started with a particular outcome before gathering data.

Moralogous:I’m circumcised and I’m fine.
A video where circumcised women are interviewed. They believe that female circumcision or female genital cutting is a good practice. They plan on cutting their girls. The denial of harm is strong.

Joseph4GI:Herpes Circumcision Babies: Another One? Geez!
Another report of a baby infected with herpes in New York City. Joseph wonders if the authorities in NYC will take any action to protect baby boys during ritual circumcisions. I wonder at how a religious rite can be so over powering as to put baby boys at grave risk of being infected. Why can't the mohel retire?

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Saving Our Sons:The Plastibell Lie
A mother tells how she did not want her baby boy cut. The doctors offered a non-cutting procedure using a Plastibell. They lied about the procedure being painless. The mother realizes too late to save her son that she should have left him whole.

Evolutionary Parenting:Circumcision, Science, and Religion: Part 3
Part 3 in a 4 part series discussing male infant circumcision. The author talks about sexual functioning after circumcision, but she draws no conclusions. She misses the point. No man wants less sexual pleasure. That there are any studies that show that a significant number of men suffer a loss of sexual pleasure after an adult circumcision is meaningful. No sane man would consent to a circumcision if he was told that there is one study that shows 38% of men reported that it was worse being circumcised. Another study showed that only 61% of men were satisfied with their adult circumcision.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

College Times:COLUMN: Religious practices are not all ethical
An opinion piece about the recent report of a baby boy who died after getting herpes from the mohel who circumcised him. The author points out that the mohel should be charged for criminal homicide for the baby's death.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Evolutionary Parenting:Circumcision, Science, and Religion: Part 4
Part 4 in a 4 part series discussing male infant circumcision. The author wraps up the series with more thoughts on male circumcision. For example, the difference between infant and adult circumcision and the pain felt by the patient. Baby boys are not equipped to handle pain and pain meds are limited for infants. She also addresses religious circumcision.

Northern Rockies Independent Media Network:Protect children's rights: oppose circumcision
An opinion piece advocating for children's rights. The author points out that male infant circumcision violates the rights of children to a whole body, and in a recent case, to a body free of herpes. The rights of the child should trump anyone's right to practice their religion on another person.

African Herald Express:Flawed African Studies into Male Circumcision and HIV Sexual Transmission
A news report of a critique of the three trials often cited by those promoting the circumcision campaign in Africa. The critique documents numerous flaws in the trials and points out that the absolute reduction in HIV infections is only 1.3%. That percentage is not adjusted for any error bias. Furthermore, another trial showed a 61% relative and 6% absolute increase in the HIV infection rate for women who had sex with circumcised men.

Men do Complain:6 Million Pounds wasted
Six million pounds is a lot of money spent on male infant circumcisions. Why does it need to be spent? Why not let baby boys grow up with their whole body?

Friday, March 23, 2012

Beyond the Bris:Me But Not My Son: A Young Jewish Man Breaks Rank on Circumcision
A Jewish man tells how, despite his infant circumcision, he will not be circumcising any of his infant sons. He has a strong Jewish identity. But he has struggled with his circumcised status while growing. He tells of feeling less than whole. He has since resolved not to circumcise any of his children.

TV-A much better way:Circumcision To Prevent HIV? Responding To Bill Gate’s 2011 Annual Letter
Male circumcision does not prevent HIV. There is evidence showing that in many African countries the circumcised men have a higher HIV rate than those who are intact. These findings directly contradict the assertions of those promoting the circumcision campaign in Africa.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Lord, haste the day…:on circumcision
A father discussed the results of their decision to leave their newborn son whole, that is, uncircumcised. He said many asked about the boy's circumcision status. In answer, he posts the many reasons why male infant circumcision is bad idea that has outlived its time.

Comments

The report shows 37% complications following the use of this clamp, and the study even show that it was unethical! How in the world can WHO keep on promoting male circumcision in Africa? How many more thousands of African men will be permanently mutilated on the basis of flawed reports? Where is the moral integrity of those who promote circumcision as a preventive measure for HIV infection?

Who is this guy?

Restoring Tally is just an ordinary guy who had to confront his prostate and circumcision problems. This site chronicles his journey in dealing with these issues. He has had prostate surgery and he is restoring his foreskin.